For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Isaiah 41:1-4     

1 ‘Be silent before me, you islands!
    Let the nations renew their strength!
Let them come forward and speak;
    let us meet together at the place of judgment.

2 ‘Who has stirred up one from the east,
    calling him in righteousness to his service?
He hands nations over to him
    and subdues kings before him.
He turns them to dust with his sword,
    to wind-blown chaff with his bow.
3 He pursues them and moves on unscathed,
    by a path his feet have not travelled before.
4 Who has done this and carried it through,
    calling forth the generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord – with the first of them
    and with the last – I am he.’

A. Find Out:

1. What 4 things are commanded? v.1
2. What is the Lord doing? v.2a,b
3. What does he do with the peoples? v.2c-
4. What does the Lord then do? v.3
5. What is the question then being asked? v.4a,b
6. How does He describe Himself? v.4c,d

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise the call in verse 1?
2. What is He revealing about Himself in verse 2?
3. So what is the main point of these verses?

C. Comment:

Remember the call in the previous chapter was to get ready to meet God, and then the chapter unfolded to reveal different facets of this God who was coming. In a sense this chapter continues to describe the Lord, but also brings a sense of personal encounter being required now.

Verse 1 is a call for the whole world to come together and stand before the Lord to speak and be judged. ‘Islands’ always indicate the furthermost scattered peoples. ‘Nations’ simply refer to the mass of the world population, so this is a calling the whole world to account.

In verse 2 the Lord points out to them how He is a God who can summon kings into His service and use them to exercise His judgement. There is no name given here, it is just general principles being stated, though the names of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus as kings in the future that the Lord would call and use, come to mind.

In verses 2 and 3 the Lord reveals the destructive, cleansing nature of such a king in the hand of the Lord. The Lord can bring direct judgement but so often he uses men to judge men,   i.e. He uses the affairs of men to judge men. He claims the sovereign ability to create nations, whole generations, as well as bring judgement on them. If He destroys He can create anew! In this passage we see the Lord who is sovereign over the affairs of men.

D. Application:

1. Do you see the hand of God through the events of history?
2. Do you see the hand of God in the affairs of today?

Passage: Isaiah 41:5-7

5 The islands have seen it and fear;
    the ends of the earth tremble.
They approach and come forward;
6     they help each other
    and say to their companions, ‘Be strong!’
7 The metalworker encourages the goldsmith,
    and the one who smooths with the hammer
    spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.
One says of the welding, ‘It is good.’
    The other nails down the idol so that it will not topple.

A. Find Out:    

1. How does the earth respond? v.5a,b
2. What do they do? v.5c
3. To do what? v.6
4. Who encourages who? v.7a
5. Who else spurs on who? v.7b,c
6. What do they do? v.7e

B. Think:

1. What has the world seen, referred to as “it” in verse 5?
2. What was their emotional response to it?
3. What did they then DO in response?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just prompted Isaiah to prophesy about the His activities among the nations, using nations to judge nations. Now He shows us the response of the rest of the world as they have looked on and seen all that has happened.

Their first response is their emotional response: fear and trembling. Not a bad response in the face of an awesome Almighty God! Their second response is to gather together for mutual support. They don’t bow down before the Lord as you might expect, but instead take comfort from one another. In this way they reinforce their own ungodliness.  They do not turn to the Lord and become godly people, but instead reassure each other in their ungodliness.

More than that they reassure and encourage one another in their idol worship! In those days that referred to literal idols, but today the idols that we rely upon are more “sophisticated” – science, psychology, medicine, caring services – all good things in themselves but things that the world uses to reinforce its ungodliness, that it uses to reinforce its, “we can do it ourselves, we’ve got the answers,” mentality. This in fact is idolatry when it is to the exclusion of God and used to exclude Him. That is what the modern world does. Having received these things as gifts of God, they now use them to declare they don’t need God!

D. Application:

1. Anything you use to exclude God is idolatry.
2. Be sure not to turn a gift into an idol.

Passage: Isaiah 41:8-10      

8 ‘But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    you descendants of Abraham my friend,
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
    from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, “You are my servant”;
    I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

A. Find Out:

1. List the five descriptions in verse 8.
2. Where had they come from? v.9a,b
3. How were they different from the rest of the world? v.9c,d
4. What two things are they told NOT to be? v.10a,b
5. Why? v.10a,b
6. What will the lord do for them? v.10c,d

B. Think:

1. What is the role of a servant?
2. Why is Israel a servant?
3. What encouragement are they given?

C. Comment:

At this point in Isaiah we have the first of many references to Israel as God’s servant. Let’s note some things about servants. By definition, a servant has a master and a servant’s role in life is to serve the master. The master decrees what the servant will do, and the servant exists to achieve what the master wants achieved.

So, twice here Israel is described as God’s servant. Not a friend, not an equal, but one who does the bidding of the other. Twice they are told that God has chosen them.  There is a sense of ownership, of destiny and purpose in all this.   God created them, right back from Abraham. He took Abraham from afar off and drew him to the Promised Land. There He turned him into a nation. A number of times Abraham, Jacob, and later the nation at the exile, and then at the dispersion in AD70, left the land, but the Lord took them back.  This is where they belong and where they still are today.

Why? Because they are God’s servant. For this reason they are told not to be afraid or be put off when things don’t seem to be working out. Why? Because they are God’s servant and He is with them. They may be called to do His will but He is with them to protect, provide and generally bless them. When they grow weak He will strengthen them.   When they are opposed He will uphold them.  Why?  They belong to Him.

D. Application:

1. WE are servants of the Lord, called for a purpose.
2. But WE’RE also friends and family of God. Rejoice in that.

Passage: Isaiah 41:11-13   

11 ‘All who rage against you
    will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
    will be as nothing and perish.
12 Though you search for your enemies,
    you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
    will be as nothing at all.
13 For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.

A. Find Out:

1. Who will be ashamed and disgraced? v.11a
2. What will happen to those who oppose them? v.11b
3. What will happen when they go looking for their enemies? v.12a
4. Why? v.12b
5. What does the Lord say He does? v.13a,b
6. What does He speak to them? v.13c,d

B. Think:

1. How should verse 11 bring a sense of security to Israel?
2. How should that happen because of verse 12?
3. How does verse 13 answer any queries that may arise from 11 & 12?

C. Comment:

The Lord has been speaking about His greatness, and then shows the foolish response of the nations (v.5-7). He then went on to describe Israel as His servant who was not to fear. When the Lord says, “Don’t worry”, it’s because there is a reason to worry – the world still rejects Him, there are still enemies out there!  So, now He deals with the question of these enemies.  What does He say?

Basically He’s saying, don’t worry about them. First of all they are going to be put to shame. They may look big and powerful at the moment but they are going to be brought low. If you worry about them opposing you, don’t, because their opposition will melt away. Indeed there will come a time when you go looking for those who are against you and you will find none of them left!  So, you can look at them and see how big they seem, but don’t worry, they will not be a problem!!!!

Why can the Lord say this? Because He is the Lord! Because of all that He has said before about His own greatness and power and wisdom. It is stupid to think of rulers and nations in the same breath! But more than that, the Lord isn’t just “out there”. He speaks of His intimate closeness to them: He takes them by the hand and whispers, it’s all right, nothing to be afraid of, I’ll look after you, just like a father with a little child. That is why we don’t need to fear.

D. Application:

1. God is all powerful. None can withstand Him. Worship him.
2. The Lord is with you, be at peace.

Passage: Isaiah 41:14-16

14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,’ declares the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
15 ‘See, I will make you into a threshing-sledge,
    new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
    and reduce the hills to chaff.
16 You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,
    and a gale will blow them away.
But you will rejoice in the Lord
    and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

A. Find Out:

1. How does Lord describe Israel? v.14a
2. What does He instruct them? v.14a
3. Why should they not? v.14b
4. How does He now describe Israel? v.15a,b
5. What does He say they will do? v.15c,d,16a,b
6. And what will be their end state? v.16c,d

B. Think:

1. What two contrasting pictures of Israel are given?
2. What will be the cause of change from one to the other?
3. What will be the end outcome?

C. Comment:

The Lord has been encouraging Israel. He has called them His servant (v.8,9), He’s said He will be with them (v.10,13), and He’s said their enemies will become as nothing (v.11,12).  Now He puts all those ideas into one and reiterates His encouragement.

First of all He declares their smallness. He calls them a worm, an inferior, weak creature. He calls them ‘little Israel’, a small almost insignificant nation. That IS what they are like: weak, small & helpless.

But He commands them not to be afraid.  Naturally they have everything to fear, for nations around them are bigger and stronger, but don’t fear, He says, because I will help you.  With God on your side, it doesn’t matter who is against you!

Then He tells them what He’s going to do with them. He will make them into a new, very efficient (many teeth) threshing sledge.  Such a sledge was dragged over the crop to chop the straw in preparation for winnowing.  What a picture of the triumph they will have over their enemies!  Mountains and hills refer to seeming insurmountable obstacles.   But more than this they will also winnow or beat out the crop and it will all be blown away.  By the time they are finished with their enemies there will be nothing left of them.  As a result of this there will be great exultation in Israel with praise for God.

D. Application:

1. God takes what is weak and uses it triumphantly.
2. Let God take you with your weakness and use you.

Passage: Isaiah 41:17-20

17 ‘The poor and needy search for water,
    but there is none;
    their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the Lord will answer them;
    I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
    and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
    and the parched ground into springs.
19 I will put in the desert
    the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers in the wasteland,
    the fir and the cypress together,
20 so that people may see and know,
    may consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

A. Find Out:

1. Who search for what, and with what result? v.17a,b
2. How does the Lord reassure them? v.17c,d
3. How does He say He will change things? v.18
4. What will He then do? v.19
5. Why will He do this? v.20

B. Think:

1. What, according to this, is the state of the land?
2. How may the physical state described reflect their spiritual state?
3. What did God say He would do?

C. Comment:

When a desert is mentioned we get this clear picture of a dry, arid wasteland, where little grows and there is little or no water. In spiritual language, a desert is a spiritual experience where there is poverty of life, poverty of contact with God.  Back in chapter 40 the call to prepare to meet God came in the desert.  Now in today’s reading the picture is of a people with no water, a land that needs desperately transforming. It may be physical, it may be spiritual.

Again the Lord is encouraging Israel. Don’t worry about your state, He says, I’ll answer your cries of help, I won’t leave you, I’ll come and bring transformation.

The extent of the transformation is dramatic. Where there is no water, suddenly rivers and springs will appear. Where there is only desert, suddenly there is plenty of water. Where there was only arid desert, suddenly there is lush vegetation, and plenty of trees.

Why will the Lord do this?  Is it simply to bless Israel?   No it’s bigger than that.  God’s ultimate objective is always to draw people to Himself, for in Him is eternal life and that He wants people to have.  So He will do all this, yes to bless Israel, but more, to draw the eyes of the world to see what has happened,  and to realise that this is the work of God Himself. Behind all He does is this ultimate goal which we must remember.  He wants people to come and receive life from Him.

D. Application:

1. Is there a ‘desert’ in your life? Cry to God to transform it.
2. Don’t be hopeless, there is nothing beyond God’s transformation.

Passage: Isaiah 41:21-24

21 ‘Present your case,’ says the Lord.
    ‘Set forth your arguments,’ says Jacob’s King.
22 ‘Tell us, you idols,
    what is going to happen.
Tell us what the former things were,
    so that we may consider them
    and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,
23     tell us what the future holds,
    so that we may know you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,
    so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
24 But you are less than nothing
    and your works are utterly worthless;
    whoever chooses you is detestable.

A. Find Out:

1. What does the Lord now challenge them to do? v.21
2. What does He want them to do? v.22a,b
3. With what aim in mind? v.22c,d
4. What again does He ask and for why? v.22e,23a,b
5. What also does He ask and why? v.23c,d
6. How does He conclude all this? v.24

B. Think:

1. Who or what is the Lord speaking against? (v.22)
2. What is He showing they cannot do?
3. In the light of what has gone before, what is He doing?

C. Comment:

In verses 5-7 we saw the Lord revealing the folly of mankind with their idols. By contrast to the idol worshipping nations, He then speaks of Israel as His servant and goes on to encourage them with promises of His presence and His blessing and transforming power. Now He returns to the idol-worshiping people of the world (whether in Israel or not). Come on, He says, show who you are, present your case for being a worthwhile contender for my position (implied)!  Let’s see these idols, let’s see what they can do!

So, can they tell how history is going to work out?  Can they tell what the future holds?  Can they interrupt history and show their power so that we will be in awe of them?  There is a strong sense of derision in these words from the Lord.  He knows they are futile! In fact, to conclude, He writes them off – you are less than nothing, your works are worthless.  In other words, you don’t exist and so you don’t have any effect on this world, and anyone who turns to you and chooses you as the guide of their life, is stupid and to be detested as a deceiver.  That is the sense of these strong words from the Lord.   He reveals idols for what they are, superstitious nonsense!

D. Application:

1. Are we relying on “things” that have no power over the present and cannot determine the future?
2. Are we truly relying upon the Lord for He alone is God and He alone  determines history, past, present and future. Worship Him!

Passage: Isaiah 41:25-29

25 ‘I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes –
    one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads on rulers as if they were mortar,
    as if he were a potter treading the clay.
26 Who told of this from the beginning, so that we could know,
    or beforehand, so that we could say, “He was right”?
No one told of this,
    no one foretold it,
    no one heard any words from you.
27 I was the first to tell Zion, “Look, here they are!”
    I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.
28 I look but there is no one –
    no one among the gods to give counsel,
    no one to give answer when I ask them.
29 See, they are all false!
    Their deeds amount to nothing;
    their images are but wind and confusion.

A. Find Out:

1. What does the Lord say He has done? v.25a,b
2. What is this person doing? v.25c,d
3. What does the Lord then ask? v.26a,b
4. What does He answer? v.26c,d, 27
5. What does He say He does, with what result? v.28
6. So what does He conclude? v.29

B. Think:

1. What are we told about God’s ability to direct history?
2. What are we told about His knowledge?
3. With whom does He contrast this?

C. Comment:

The Lord has been encouraging Israel but at the same time decrying those who would rely on idols. He has been revealing His own greatness and contrasting it with the weakness of humanity and folly of idols. In these verses He continues to do these things.

First of all He again reveals Himself (v.25) as one who guides and directs history. He has stirred up a king from the north to come and bring judgement (see also 41:2).

Next, He again reveals Himself (v.26,27) as the one who has all knowledge of history and in particular the future, contrasting Himself with the idols who cannot do this (v.22).

Finally, He contrasts Himself (v.28,29) with either the idols or the idolaters who can say nothing, who cannot speak with understanding of the past or predict the future.

The Lord alone is the One who determines history. He doesn’t make it happen in the sense that He makes people do His bidding like a bunch of mindless robots,  but He knows people’s hearts and so He can speak to them in such a way that He stirs them into action to bring about His will.  This is exactly how God brought about Jesus’ death (see Acts 2:23, 4:28). This is the Lord who KNOWS men so well that He can stir them into action (v.25) to perform His desired will.  He is the Lord!

D. Application:

1. Learn to look for the hand of the Lord in your circumstances.
2. Look for God’s hand in the events of History. Worship Him!